With a simple drop to his knees, Icer Rich Martha slid along the ice on Friday in a rather unselfish act -- he blocked another shot.

Although the American Collegiate Hockey Association's No. 1 Icers (16-3-1) were well on their way to a 10-1 victory against Rhode Island in the Nittany Lion Invitational, Martha was still aggressive.

For his efforts, the sophomore forward was named the tournament's most valuable player.

It all started last year at the ACHA national championship in Tucson, Ariz., when Martha began to lay his body down in front of incoming shots.

"Everybody thought I was crazy," he said.

But his dedication -- and his willingness to sacrifice his body for the team -- has paid off.

Spectacular numbers didn't give Martha the MVP honors. He recorded two assists in Friday's win and scored the first goal in the Icers 3-2 win Saturday against Erie Community College.

"Personally, it feels great," he said of the award. "It shows you don't have to score a hat trick every time."

When the team is on the power play, Martha plants himself in the crease like a century-old oak. And on the penalty kill, where he relentlessly forechecks, Martha is willing to give up his body for the team.

Martha has been consistent this season, scoring goals in 11 of the the team's 20 games. He is currently tied for most goals with linemate Rob Keegan at 16.

Last year, Martha recorded 10 goals in 22 games. But scoring was not something he was used to in prep school, he said.

When he was younger, Martha got his start skating at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, the home of the Penguins. His father, Paul Martha, worked for the hockey team.

"I remember, we were in the Arena, the lights were out and the only people there were pushing around chairs to keep our balance," Martha said.

At the Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, Martha played on the checking line that helped his team win the Division I prep school championship his senior year.

"When I went to Avon, I learned more about hockey than I ever thought I could," he said. "I learned how to skate better, I learned how to be a disciplined player."

Several of his teammates went on to play Div. I hockey after graduating. Martha received offers to play at the varsity level in several sports -- baseball, hockey and soccer.

He originally came to Penn State to play on the baseball team. But he decided that hockey was his true love.

And Martha was familiar with the Icer program -- he had worked at the Icers' summer hockey camps since he was 16. Martha said he knew of Battista, who coached the Junior Penguins from 1982-85. Martha played for that club in a younger age group.

But because he severely sprained his ankles in high school, Martha sat out the first third of the season for the Icers. He started out on the checking line and moved to the top line after senior John Farrall was needed on defense.

"It was a huge change," Martha said. "I was always a defensive-minded player where you bust your ass back and then you get in there and forecheck as hard as you can. Goals came very rare."

The Icers' coaching staff noticed a change in Martha this season, and they attributed it to his dedication in the weight room last summer. Icers' Associate Head Coach Ray Lombra said Martha is in his best shape ever.

"Coach was always like, 'You got to get in the weight room', and I'm like 'Yeah, alright, whatever.' And I never did," Martha said. "I was always trying to do something else."

On the line with Cliff Graziano and Rob Keegan, Martha has thrived this season. The line sticks together on and off the ice, usually culminating in a pasta dinner once a week.

"We try to spend a lot of time together as a line," Graziano said. "We're like best friends."

Note:

-- Icer defenseman Eddie Kmit and forwards Cliff Graziano and Mike Pietrangelo were named to the all-tournament team for the weekend. Erie goalie Scott Wisniewski was also named.